Cuban light heavyweight David Morrell (13-1 including the World Series of Boxing) could be forgiven for feeling a little sour in recent times. Ten months, give or take, have passed since he last fought. Just weeks ago, he was due to face Callum Smith in Liverpool for Smith's WBO interim title, only for Smith to pull up injured. Poised to head home after his bout fell through, Morrell was instead handed a lifeline, with a bout against Zak Chelli (16-3) on the Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois undercard on May 9th. The bout will be part of a DAZN pay-per-view. Morrell says he was not downtrodden, if you believe him. "When it was cancelled, I was disappointed for maybe three minutes?" he grins. "I'm not joking. This is the boxing life. Sometimes, these things happen. You just get back, and you focus on your training instead."

 

The venue switch from Liverpool to Manchester has not thrown Morrell and his team. If anything, he is more than happy with the move too. He speaks about growing up watching Manchester United in their prime, Cristiano Ronaldo and the 2008 UEFA Champions League. "A long time ago, I wanted to come here," he says, switching between English and his native tonue. "Manchester is... the old house. I was happy to be here, when they said they could change here. I want to see the architecture on Sunday. I like to explore places."

 

Certainly, Morrell seems to know more about the city that his foe, an ex-British champion at super-middleweight eyeing new ground. "I'd never seen him before [we were booked to fight]," he admits. "But he looks like a tough fight. He's a good boxer. I like to compete."

 

Has he been frustrated by his inactivity? "If it was up to me, I'd fight five or six times a year. I've got to stay in camp, keep that focus. He smiles. "I want one more fight this year. My goal's to make up for lost time, get my career back on track, back to the top where I was."

 

That said, Morrell is ready to take a beat when the dust settles on his dance with Chelli however, having been in camp longer than intended. "I'm looking forward to going back home," he says, pensively. "I miss my family, my daughter and son. [I want to] spend time with them. I like to spend time with my family. My mum calls me every day, asks me how I'm doing. I'll have maybe two or three weeks before training."

 

Keeping his feet on the ground is key for Morrell, particularly as he continues to eye another title charge, either in 2026 or beyond.

 

How does he unwind, when the rigours of a busy gym day have got to him. " A bit of video games, maybe a bit of music," he admits.

 

He turns back to his translator, then laughs again. "I like to sing in the bathroom, you know? I dig my music. I like to freestyle there."

 

Does he have a go-to genre? "Nah, man, whatever pops into my head! Like reggaeton. I like to freestyle some Spanish rap in the shower!"

 

It is unlikely Morrell will be treating Manchester to a chorus or two this weekend. But perhaps he might bust out the hits once again too.